February 5, 2003

FURMAN FOOTBALL SIGNS 14 TO NATIONAL LETTERS-OF-INTENT

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman head football coach Bobby Lamb announced today the signing of 14 recruits to national letters of intent.

"We think we've addressed our needs with this recruiting class, but as always time will tell," said Lamb early Wednesday afternoon.

In position terms, the Paladins signed three offensive linemen, two defensive ends, a pair of linebackers, two defensive backs, and two wide receivers. In addition, Furman inked a quarterback, a fullback, and tailback.

"From a numbers standout our biggest priorities were offensive line and linebackers. We had to get three linemen and two linebackers, and we did that. We're also always trying to recruit speed, and the two linebackers we signed give us that. They are a little small but have the ability to put on some weight."

Furman's recruiting class features five Palmetto products, including Shrine Bowl tailback Cedrick Gipson (Summerton, S.C./Lakewood H.S.) and four North-South All-Star Game participants: defensive end Wallace Artis (Calhoun Falls, S.C./Calhoun Falls H.S.), quarterback Renaldo Gray (Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood H.S.), wide receiver Ryan McKie (Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.), and safety Rico Scott (Columbia, S.C./Ridge View H.S.).

The Paladins registered their biggest yield in Georgia, landing six recruits. They include linebackers Clifton Dortch (Decatur, Ga./Chamblee H.S.) and Gary Nelson (Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius Catholic School); offensive linemen Reggie Goolsby (Monticello, Ga./Monticello H.S.); and cornerback Andrew Thacker (Cumming, Ga./Gainesville H.S.). In addition, Furman added two transfers with Georgia roots, including fullback Taylor Ownbey (Cumming, Ga./South Forsyth H.S.) from West Virginia University and offensive lineman Andrew Thornburg (Snellville, Ga./Brookwood, H.S.) from Air Force Academy. Ownbey enrolled at Furman in early January and has four years of eligibility remaining, and Thornburg, who has three season of eligibility, will enroll on March 3 for the beginning of spring term.

Furman's two signees from Alabama, defensive end Turner Burton and wide receiver Patrick Sprague, were both teammates at Birmingham's Mountain Brook High School. The Paladins also inked North Carolina offensive linemen Scott Shuford (Charlotte, N.C./Independence H.S.).

Furman, which opens spring practice on March 4, returns 15 starters off its 2002 squad, which went 8-4 and earned the program's fourth straight NCAA I-AA playoff appearance on the way to a No. 9 Sports Network final ranking.

2003 FURMAN FOOTBALL RECRUITS

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Last School
Wallace Artis DE 6-4 240 Fr. Calhoun Falls, S.C./Calhoun Falls H.S.
Turner Burton DE 6-3 235 Fr. Birmingham Ala./Mountain Brook H.S.
Clifton Dortch LB 6-0 200 Fr. Decatur, Ga./Chamblee H.S.
Cedrick Gipson TB 5-8 200 Fr. Summerton, S.C./Lakewood H.S.
Reggie Goolsby OL 6-1 278 Fr. Monticello, Ga./Monticello H.S.
Renaldo Gray QB 6-0 213 Fr. Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood H.S.
Ryan McKie WR 5-11 180 Fr. Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.
Gary Nelson LB 6-0 200 Fr. Stone Mountain, Ga./St. Pius Catholic School
Taylor Ownbey FB 6-0 235 Fr.-Tr. Cumming, Ga./West Virginia Univ./South Forsyth High School
Rico Scott S 6-0 195 Fr. Columbia, S.C./Ridge View H.S.
Scott Shuford OL 6-3 270 Fr. Charlotte, N.C./Independence H.S.
Patrick Sprague WR 6-0 175 Fr. Birmingham, Ala./Mountain Brook H.S.
Andrew Thacker CB 6-0 185 Fr. Cumming, Ga./Gainesville H.S.
Andrew Thornburg OL 6-2 265 So.-Tr. Snellville, Ga./Air Force Academy/Brookwood H.S.

WALLACE ARTIS, DE
6-4, 240, Freshman
Calhoun Falls, South Carolina
Calhoun Falls High School

Three-year letterman and two-year starter as a defensive end and offensive lineman...as a senior earned all-region honors both ways and was an All-Lakelands and all-state selection at defensive end...also named team most valuable player...totaled 87 tackles in helping his team to a 13-1 record and state A semifinal finish in 2002...beat defending state champion Ninety-Six to claim region title...South Carolina North-South All-Star Game participant and recipient of Doug Shaw Memorial Scholarship...tallied 75 tackles and was named team most improved on a 7-4 team his junior year...totaled 201 tackles, eight sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles in his career...football coach was Jimmy Towe...also recruited by South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Duke, and Georgia Southern...starred in track at Calhoun Falls...as a junior set a new school record in the shot put (45') and discus (190')...placed fourth in the state in the discus...also competed in the 400 meter hurdles.
Personal: Full name is Wallace Artis III...son of Tessa and Wallace Artis, Jr...born July 25, 1984, in Port Arthur, Texas...is the oldest of six boys...moved from Texas to South Carolina prior to the start of his sophomore year.

TURNER BURTON, DE
6-3, 235, Freshman
Birmingham, Alabama
Mountain Brook High School

Three-year letterman and two-year starter at offensive tackle who also saw action at offensive guard and fullback...is projected to play defensive end at Furman...earned All-Over The Mountain and all-metro team honors a senior in helping Mountain Brook to a 13-1 record, Region 7 championship, and 6A state semifinal finish...started at offensive tackle in 10 of 12 games as a junior on 10-2 squad...also recruited by Samford and UAB.
Personal: Full name is Robert Turner Burton...son of Rob and Nancy Burton...born March 28, 1985, in Birmingham, Alabama...great-grandfather, Fred Sington, was a two-time All-America offensive tackle at Alabama, member of the Tide's 1930 national championship team, 1955 inductee into the National Football Foundation Hall-of-Fame, and member of the Alabama Sports Hall-of-Fame...uncles, Dave Sington (1956-68) and Fred Sington, Jr. (1958-59), play football for Alabama.

CLIFTON DORTCH, LB
6-0, 200, Freshman
Decatur, Georgia
Chamblee High School

Four-year letterman who played linebacker and tight end during his prep tenure...registered 187 tackles, 15 sacks, 30 tackles-for-loss, six fumble recoveries, and an interception in his career...served as team captain and earned 4A all-region honors on a 6-4 team his senior year...in all tallied 56 tackles, four sacks, nine tackles-for-loss, three caused fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 2002...was sidelined for much of 2001 with a sprained knee...set a school power clean record with a lift of 310 pounds...football coach at Chamblee was Wade Beale...was also recruited by Lehigh, Middle Tennessee State, Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State...competed in track.
Personal: Full name is Clifton Lee Dortch...son of Leatha Dortch...born February 17, 1985, in Brooklyn, New York.

CEDRICK GIPSON, TB
5-8, 200, Freshman
Summerton, South Carolina

Lakewood High School Three-year starter at running back who rushed for a school season record 1,702 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior in helping Lakewood to the state 3A playoffs...named team most valuable player...selected Sumter Daily Item Area Player-of-the-Year and all-state...was a Shrine Bowl pick and finalist for South Carolina High School Sports Report Mr. Football...named to academic all-area squad...rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns against Dreher...ran for 188 yards and scored game winning touchdown in 18-17 triumph over Manning in 2002...as a sophomore broke Lakewood's single game rushing record with 250 yards and five touchdowns in 50-0 win over AC Flora...career rushing statistics include 531 attempt, 3,203 yards, and 35 touchdowns...football coach was Greg Crolley...was recruited by Oregon and nearly all Southern Conference schools, including Elon...claimed a region weightlifting title and was a member of the 4x100 meter relay region championship team...also competed in the 100 and 200 meter dash.
Personal: Full name is Cedrick Samal Gipson...son of Isaiah Moore and Charlene Gipson...born November 23, 1984, in Manning, South Carolina...has six brothers and sisters.

REGGIE GOOLSBY, OL
6-1, 278, Freshman
Monticello, Georgia
Monticello High School

Helps comprise a contingent of three offensive linemen in Furman's 2003 recruiting class...played center and started all four years at Monticello...served as team captain and garnered 7-AA All-Region honors...took home his team's best offensive lineman award in 2002...football coach was Steve Patterson...won region championships in the shot put and discus his junior year...served as basketball team captain.
Personal: Full name is Reginald Jerome Goolsby...son of Norris and Deborah Goolsby...born January 1, 1985, in Monticello, Georgia...father played football at Fort Valley State.

RENALDO GRAY, QB
6-0, 213, Freshman
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood High School

Product of highly successful Greenwood program coached by Shell Dula...made the rare move from tight end and defensive end to quarterback his senior year...responded by earning All-Lakelands and all-region honors after throwing for a school record 2,431 yards while helping his squad to a 10-3 record, region championship, and semifinal finish in 4A state playoffs...also rushed for 630 yards to finish with 3,061 yards in total offense in 2002...participated in South Carolina North-South All-Star Game...earned all-region offensive and defensive honors on 10-3 region championship team in 2001, tallying 40 receptions for 600 yards and 12 touchdowns along with 45 tackles, including 10 for loss...had 10 receptions for 120 yards his sophomore year, including a touchdown pass in Greenwood's state championship game victory to complete a 13-2 campaign...program did not lose a region game during his four-year career...was recruited by Wake Forest, Chattanooga, The Citadel, and Presbyterian...also starred in basketball at Greenwood.
Personal: Full name is Renaldo Quinterio Gray...son of Floyd and Verneilla Gray...born April 1, 1985, in Greenwod, South Carolina.

RYAN MCKIE, WR
5-11, 180, Freshman
Simpsonville, South Carolina
Hillcrest High School

Three-time all-region 4A "Big 16" selection as a wide receiver...also played defensive back and returned kickoffs and punts during his prep career...selected to play in South Carolina North-South All-Star Game...caught 12 passes for 144 yards and five touchdowns against Laurens in 2002...totaled 45 receptions for 550 yards and a score as a junior...established a new school record with 61 receptions for 808 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore in 2000, including a seven-reception, 123-yard, four-touchdown performance versus Laurens...football coach was Dewayne Garrick...was also recruited by Middle Tennessee State, Vanderbilt, and Coastal Carolina...standout performer in track...finished sixth in the state 400 meter hurdles as a junior....is a two-time national junior olympic pentathlon champion and two-time national bronze medalist in the pentathlon and decathlon.
Personal: Full name is James Ryan McKie...son of James and Demetra McKie...born January 14, 1985, in Columbia, South Carolina...father played football at University of South Carolina and was the backup to Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers, whose son, Brandon Poole, is a rising senior defensive end for the Paladins...cousin B.J. McKie, played basketball at South Carolina.

GARY NELSON, LB
6-0, 200, Freshman
Stone Mountain, Georgia
St. Pius X Catholic School

Two-year starter who registered action at tailback, linebacker, and defensive end as a prep...had 20 tackles, a sack, and a quarterback pressure as a defensive end to go along with 503 yards rushing and five touchdowns as a senior...also caught seven passes for 42 yards...helped paced St. Pius to a 7-4 record in 2002 and only the program's fourth 4A state playoff appearance in 26 years...rushed for 421 yards and three touchdowns and notched 25 tackles playing linebacker his junior year...football coach was Paul Standard...was also recruited by Lehigh and West Georgia.
Personal: Full name is Gary John Nelson, Jr....son of Gary and Greta Nelson...born September 6, 1984, in Los Angeles, California...aunt, Cherie Nelson, was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection and conference basketball player-of-the-year selection for the 1987-88 season.

TAYLOR OWNBEY, FB
6-0, 235, Freshman (Transfer)
Cumming, Georgia South
Forsyth High School

Transfer from West Virginia who enrolled at Furman beginning with winter term...will take part in spring practice...has four years of eligibility remaining...four-year starter who played both fullback and linebacker at South Forsyth High School...career statistics include 209 rushes for 1,219 yards and 17 touchdowns, 550 tackles, 13 sacks, 23 tackles-for-loss, and nine fumble recoveries...totaled 212 stops, 10 tackles-for-loss, and three sacks as a senior in helping his squad to a 10-3 record and state 3A state quarterfinal finish...named Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) all-state and Gainesville Times Northeast Georgia Player-of-the-Year in 2001...was rated as one of Georgia's Top 50 Prospects by the AJC and a PrepStar All-American...as a junior recorded 148 tackles and six sacks despite playing with two broken bones in his left wrist...had 121 tackles and a pair of sacks as a sophomore and 71 tacklkes and two sacks in 1998, his freshman year...four-time all-county pick...football coach was Norris Vaughn...was recruited by Georgia, Mississippi State, Mississippi, West Virginia, Middle Tennessee State, and Georgia Southern as a high school senior...also excelled in wrestling and as a baseball catcher, earning all-county and all-state honors.
Personal: Full name is Wade Taylor Ownbey...son of Murphy and Pam Ownbey...born August, 24, 1983, in Cooekville, Tennessee...father played football at Carson-Newman.

RICO SCOTT, S
6-0, 195, Freshman
Columbia, South Carolina
Ridge View High School

Three-year starter who registered action at strong safety, free safety, and cornerback at Ridge View High School...totaled 276 tackles and two interceptions in his career...two-time all-area honoree... 2002 South Carolina North-South All-Star Game participant...tallied 107 tackles, six pass deflections, and three tackles-for-loss as a senior...set a school record with 22 tackles during his junior season on the way to 110 tackles, five caused fumbles, and a pair of interceptions...had 59 tackles as a sophomore...football coach was former Paladin standout wide receiver and 1987 Furman graduate Kirk Burnett...was recruited by Navy, Wofford, The Citadel, Western Carolina, and Coastal Carolina...outstanding student...recipient of the West Point Leadership and National Football Foundation and Hall-of-Fame Scholar Athlete Awards...was a National Achievement Scholarship Finalist.
Personal: Full name is Yonrico Vondez Scott II...son of Yonrico Scott and Charmaine Evans...born July 19, 1985, in Atlanta, Georgia...father played football at Kentucky State and was an outstanding musician who played with groups and artists including Pebo Bryson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, After 7, The Wiz, and currently The Derek Trucks Band.

SCOTT SHUFORD, OL
6-3, 270, Freshman
Charlotte, North Carolina
Independence High School

Highly decorated product of one of North Carolina¹s most successful football programs that included quarterback Chris Leak, considered by many to be the nation's top high school senior in 2002...three-year starter at left tackle who also handled long snapping duties...helped pace Independence to a 47-1 record and three state 4A championships during his tenure, including active 46-game winning streak...2002 and 2001 squads each posted 16-0 records and sophomore team went 15-1...played in 2002 East-West Shrine Bowl...three-time All-Charlotte Observer and All-Meckenburg County selection...two-time all-conference and all-state honoree...was recruited by Army, William & Mary, Richmond, and Appalachian State...also wrestled and competed in track & field.
Personal: Full name is Scott William Shuford...son of Burt Shuford...born January 16, 1985, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

PATRICK SPRAGUE, WR
6-0, 175, Freshman
Birmingham, Alabama
Mountain Brook High School

Three-year starter who saw action as a wide receiver, quarterback, placekicker, and punter at Mountain Brook High School, where he was a teammate of Paladin defensive end signee Turner Burton...career statistics include 98 receptions for 1,560 yards and 10 touchdowns...averaged 40.0 yards per punt...earned team most valuable player, all-metro, and second team all-state honors as a receiver in 2002 after helping his squad to a 13-1 record and state 6A semifinal finish...caught 52 passes for 853 yards and 12 touchdowns...also completed 6-of-8 passes for four touchdowns...scored five touchdowns in one game his senior year...as a junior caught 46 passes for 707 yards and seven touchdowns, and scored 98 points as the team's kicker, earning all-metro honors...football coach was Joey Jones...was recruited by Vanderbilt, UAB, SMU, Middle Tennessee State, and Samford...also starred in basketball and baseball...currently averaging 17.0 ppg in basketball on team ranked sixth in state.
Personal: Full name is Patrick Foster Sprague...son of Richard and Patricia Sprague...born August 30, 1984, in Birmingham, Alabama.

ANDREW THACKER, CB
6-0, 185, Freshman
Cumming, Georgia
Gainesville High School

Three-year starter who exceled at both free safety and wide receiver during his prep tenure...compiled 257 tackles, nine interceptions, 941 receiving yards, 507 yards rushing, and 20 touchdowns in his career, helping Gainesville to a four year record of 43-9 record and state playoff appearance each year...fashioned a brilliant senior season, tallying 125 tackles and six interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns...also returned a fumble for a score...as a receiver caught 35 passes for 634 yards and eight touchdowns...caught nine passes for 124 yards and recorded 11 tackles and three pass deflections in state 3A semifinal game versus Screven County...named team most valuable player, all-area, and all-state after helping Gainesville to a 13-1 record and No. 3 final ranking in 2002...tabbed academic all-state...as a junior totaled 58 tackles and an interception...also rushed for 423 yards and totaled 307 yards in receptions while accounting for six touchdowns on 12-2 team, state semifinal squad...had 74 tackles and two pickoffs in 2000, his sophomore year...football coach was step-father, Bruce Miller...was recruited by Middle Tennessee State, Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, and Wofford...also played basketball and competed in track & field...two-time 400 meter region champion...finished as region runnerup in the 200 meters his sophomore year.
Personal: Full name is Andrew Jay Thacker...son of Mickey Thacker...step-parents are Bruce and Donna Miller...born May 31, 1985, in Cartersville, Georgia.

ANDREW THORNBURG, OL
6-2, 265, Sophomore (Transfer)
Snellville, Georgia
Brookwood High School

Transfer from Air Force Academy who will enroll at Furman on March 3 for the beginning of spring term...will take part in spring practice...has three years of eligibility remaining...standout offensive guard at Brookwood High School, where he played for Dave Hunter...started 23 consecutive games over his junior and senior seasons...earned first team All-Gwinnett County honors following a 5-5 season in 2001...as a junior helped lead Brookwood to an 11-2 record and 5A state quarterfinals...in addition to Furman, was recruited by Ohio and Air Force out of high school...also competed in track & field, specializing in the discus.
Personal: Full name is Paul Andrew Thornburg...son of Paul and Debra Thornburg...born February 13, 1984, in Sarasota, Florida.